Cricket: Law full of concern over Pakistan tour

Bangladesh coach expresses fear about the team’s scheduled series.


Afp April 17, 2012

DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket coach Stuart Law has expressed fears about the team’s scheduled tour to Pakistan, where international cricket has been suspended for three years.

Bangladesh are set to be the first Test-playing nation to visit Pakistan since a gun attack on the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test in 2009, when eight people died and seven visiting players and an assistant coach were injured.

“It’s got to be made sure by the two associating boards that everyone is 100% safe to go,” Law told the Dhaka-based New Age. “I cannot speak on behalf of the players. I’ve spent time with the players and everyone is a bit concerned. Not just Bangladesh, but the other teams as well. The initial response from the players around the world is, ‘I don’t want to go’.”

Bangladesh will play a One-Day International and one Twenty20 on April 29 and 30 in Lahore, a move hailed by Pakistani political leaders, players and fans. But newspapers in Bangladesh criticised the country’s cricket board chief Mustafa Kamal for agreeing to the tour.

The New Age daily described the decision as ‘irresponsible, unprofessional, autocratic and downright selfish’.

Law, from Australia, declined to confirm if he would go on the tour, while Bangladesh’s cricket authorities said they were seeking clearance from the International Cricket Council.

Law grabs new role in Australia

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia announced it had appointed Law to a high-performance role at Australian cricket’s Centre of Excellence.

Law, who played one test and 54 ODIs for Australia, will return to his home city of Brisbane to take up the appointment. He will assist Centre of Excellence head coach Troy Cooley in providing tactical and technical support and development to Australian cricketers in the state and national programmes.

“The opportunity to return home to be closer with family and work in Brisbane with Australia’s established and emerging talent was too good to pass up.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2012.

COMMENTS (6)

asif | 11 years ago | Reply

Is Pakistan ready for International cricket??? We need to put our house in order first

Saad | 11 years ago | Reply

Bpl(Bangladesh premier league) became successful because of Pakistani players & nomination of bcb official in icc is due 2 pcb support, so they ain't doing any favours although they should be glad that they will play with world class players & please don't CRY again if u lose

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